Distribution side opening load break switch



Nov. 27, 1962 K. A. THALLNER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH Filed Dec. 8, 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 444,94 ,4. TH/IL A A/E Nov. 27, 1962 K. I A.THALLN ER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH. Filed Dec. 8, 19.60,:

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J53. RTE A 66; I

l I I r 150 95,22; 3 III I I 60 I I a A I QI if I I 1 l Z?T 5 INVENTOR-cg K4196 AJ'WIZLVEI 72 BY TTOMEK) Nov. 27, 1962 K. A. THALLNER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH Filed Dec. 8, 1960 3SheetsSheet 3 l I 7 ,5 /U

Q 47 I O 0 46b L 1 80 INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,066,239 DISTRIBUTION SIDE (BPENlP-l-G LUAD BREAKSWITCH Karl A. Thallner, Greenshurg, Pa, assigns: to I-T=-E CircultBreaker Qempany, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledDec. 8, 196i), Ser. No. 7 1,693 15 Claims. (Cl. Nil-163) This inventionrelates to a novel distribution side opening load break switch foroutdoor use which is provided with a novel interrupter means of asimplified nature which permits simplification to be made within theswitch itself.

Distribution side opening switches are well known in the art for outdooruse whereby they are equipped with so-called load break attachments ofthe well known plunger type design. Load break attachments permit theswitch to interrupt currents of load current value by providingauxiliary contact means in parallel with the main switch contacts. Theauxiliary or interrupter contacts are adapted to withstand andextinguish load current arcs and remain closed until the main contactsare opened. Thus, when the main contacts open, there is a parallel pathfor the flow of load current so that the main contacts will notinterrupt load current. At a predetermined point after the main contactsopen, the interrupter contacts are caused to open. The interruptercontacts are specifically designed for this purpose, it being noted thatin their design it is not necessary that they carry continuous loadcurrent, this being normally car- 'ed by the main contacts. Thus, theauxiliary contacts can be relatively small as compared to the maincontacts, although they are constructed in such a manner or with suchauxiliary arc extinguishing means that they can interrupt the loadcurrent, once load current is shunted into these contacts due to theopening of the main contacts.

When such switches are used in outdoor environments they are subject toicing. This problem becomes particularly severe in the case of theinterrupter where water can flow inside the interrupter and subsequentlyfreeze, to interfere with the interrupter operation.

In addition to this, the presence of water within the interrupter willinterfere with the interrupting characteristics of the interrupter,since it can provide a relatively low resistance path to electricalcurrent flow across high dielectric elements within the interrupter.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel interrupter structureis provided for distribution side opening switches wherein there isaccess and egress for the movable load breaking contact to areas withinan interruptin chamber, while the interrupter structure is formed toprevent leakage of water therein.

In addition, the novel interrupter structure is provided with passagemeans for permitting water which does accumulate within the interrupteras by condensation to flow out of the interrupter chamber to externalareas.

With the use of such a novel interrupter it has been further found thatthe switch construction itself can be substantially simplified. As willbe seen, the structure does not require castings, and is formed ofcomponents which lend themselves to simplified manufacturing techniquesand which are light in weight.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide asimplified distribution side opening load break switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel interrupteradapter for distribution side opening switches.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novelinterrupter structure for distribution side opening switches which offersubstantial obstacles to the ingress of water to areas internal of theinterrupter, and provides ice passage means for permitting drainage ofwater which does reach these internal areas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel distributionside opening switch which is inexpensive, utilizes no castings, isformed of parts capable of easy manufacture and is light in weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel interrupteradapter for distribution side opening switches which is inexpensive, isformed of simple component parts and is light in weight.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a side opening distribution switch adaptedwith an interrupter manufactured in accordance with the presentinvention.

FEGURE 2 shows a top view of the operating crank of FIGURE 1, andillustrates the open and closed position for the crank.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of the novel adapter of the invention.

FIGURE 3A is a front view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a side view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 shows a top view of one of the stationary interrupter contactscontained within the interrupter of FIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the contact of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top view of the jaw and contacts of thedistribution switch.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a detailed side view of the manner in which the interruptermovable blade is mounted for quick break or snap-type action.

FIGURE 10 is a top view of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have shown a distribution side openingswitch which has a mounting base 10. The mounting base lil then supportsa stationary insulator 11 and a pivotal support member 12 for arotatable insulator 13.

The main switch blade is formed of parallel blades 14 and 15 which maybe fabricated from bar material and is mounted to the top of rotatableinsulator 13 by mounting strap 16. Mounting strap 16 as shown is boltedto the top of insulator 13 by bolts 17 and 18 and to the blades 14 and35 as by bolts 19 and 20 which further carry spacers 21 and 22respectively for holding blades 14 and 15 in their parallel spacedrelationship.

The righthand and hinge end of blades 14 and 15 have openings thereinwhich are in registry with an opening in terminal bar 23 which isstationarily mounted in some desirable manner (not shown). A bolt 24passes through a spring washer 25, the opening in blade 15, the openingin terminal bar 23, the opening in blade 14, and a second spring washer26. A nut 27 is thereafter se cured to bolt 24- so that the right-handends of blades 14 and 15 are pressed inwardly by spring washers 25 and26 toward electrical engagement with terminal bar 23. If desired, smallprotrusions may be formed on the op posing surfaces of blades 14 and 15which will engage the surfaces of terminal bar 23 along small highpressure areas to insure adequate electrical contact. The terminal bar23 is then provided, for example, with openings 28 and 29 for receivingelectrical connections to one terminal of the distribution circuit.

The terminal jaw end of the switch which is carried by insulator 11carries a second terminal bar 30 which serves as the stationary jaw andcontact at its right-hand end. More specifically, a U-shaped mountingstrap 31 is secured to stationary insulator 11 as by bolts 32 and 33.The upper leg of U-shaped strap 31 is bolted to the terminal strap 30 ina mid-portion thereof as by bolts 34 and 35.

. to a motion into the paper in FIGURE 1.

To form the movable contact portion of the jaw end of the switch, astructure similar to the structure used at the hinge end is provided forblades 14 and 15. More specifically, and as best seen. in FIGURES 7 and8, the left-hand ends of blades 14 and 15 are provided with openings forreceiving a bolt 36 identical to bolt 24 which bears on a washer 37which is identical to washer 25.

The lower end or" bolt 36 receives a washer 35 identical to washer 25and a nut 39 identical to nut 37. A spacer 39a is interposed betweenblades 14 and 15 as is concentric with bolt to provide proper spacingetween blades 14 and 15. The terminal bar 311 is positioned to clear thecentral portion of bolt 36 so that appropriate movement can occurbetween the left-hand ends of blades 14 and 15 and the right-hand end ofterminal bar 30 which serves as the stationary contact. Embossed contactribs 14a and 15a are formed in the ends of blades 14 and 15,respectively, for making contact with terminal bar Sit. If desired,protrusions may again be provided ,at the inner surfaces of blades 14and 15 to engage the surface of terminal bar to assure high pressurecontact engagement. It will, therefore, be noted that the constructionof blades 14 and 15 is symmetric to substantially simplify manufacturingtechniques.

The terminal bar is then provided with openings 41) and 41 which receiveelectrical connection to another terminal in the distribution circuitwhich is to receive the disconnect switch.

An operating mechanism for operating the switch of FIGURE 1 includes acrank arm 42 attached to the lower end of rotatable insulator 13. Thecrank arm 42, as best seen in FEGURE 2, is movable from the closedposition shown in FIGURE 2 and in a clockwise direction to an openposition 43, which motion corresponds This movement can involve arotation of the order of 75 degrees. If desired, a locking means of anydesired type can be provided to lock crank arm 42 in its closed oropened position in the usual manner.

When rotatable insulator 13 is rotated as indicated above, it will beapparent that blades 14 and 15 will rotate about the axis of rotatableinsulator 13 from the position shown in FZGURE l to an open position,and in a plane which is parallel to the plane which includes base 1G.

in order to convert the switch of FIGURE 1 to a switch which can operateunder load current conditions, an interrupter attachment or load breakattachment 44 is provided which cooperates with a quick break blade 45.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, the blades 14 and 15 carry the quick breakblade 45 which is secured to mounting means 46, which is, in turn,bolted to blades 14 and 15 as by bolt means 47.

The manner in which quick break blade 45 is carried by blades 14 and 15is best shown in FEGURES 9 and 10. Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, thebolt means pivotally mounts mounting means 46 and thu blade 45. Mountingmeans 46 has two extending ears 46a and 4612 which are engageable withstop pin 8% carried by blades 14 and 15. A torsion spring 51,schematically shown in FIG- URE 10 is carried within mounting means 46and coaxially with bolts 47 and has a first end 51a connected tomounting means 46 and its other end 81b connected to non-rotatable bolt47.

In operation, and as will be later seen, as the blades 14 and 15 aremoved to a disengaged position, blade 45 I is locked under theinterrupter contacts so that there is relative angular motion betweenblades 14 and 15 and blade 45 with the torsion spring 81 being loaded.When blades 14 and 15 sufiiciently clear their contact 31 car 46aengages pin 30 to force blade 45 out of its latched postion in theinterrupter. Once the latch is so defeated,

' the blade 45 is quickly snapped back to the relative posiwhere ear 46bengages pin 4% so that the blade is quickly snapped out of theinterrupter.

The load break attachment 44 is supported, as best seen in FEGURE l, bya U-shaped bracket 48 which is secured to insulator 11 by bolts 32 asshown.

The manner in which the load break adapter 44 is constructed, and themanner in which it receives mounting bracket 45 is shown in FIGURES 3and 4. Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the load break adapter isformed of two halves 49 and 511 which are secured together by rivets 51through 58. As best seen in FIG- URE 3A, the upper portion of the halvesdirectly abut one another, and a portion of the adjacent surfaces of thehalves is cut away to define the slot 59.

The halves 45 and are formed of an insulating material made of agas-evolving material of any desired nature well known to those skilledin the art, and contains herein a pair of contacts 60 and 61 which areconstructed, as shown in F-lGURES 5 and 6 for the case of contact at ofa flexible contact arm 72 which has a contact of arc resisting materialsecured thereto as by brazing.

As best shown in PiGURE-S 3A and 4, the contact elements of contacts onand 61 oppose one another to receive, an will be seen hereinafter, theextending quick break blade 45 partially shown in FIGURE 3.

The contacts 55* and 61 are secured to their respective halves 49 and 55by rivet member 53, as shown in FIG- URE 3. At the same time, it is seenin FIGURES 3 and 4 that the U-shaped bracket 45 is secured to the twohalves 49 and 5% by rivets 52, 53 and 54.

It is to be noted that while securing devices 51 through 58 have beendescribed herein as being rivets, they could be of any desired type ofsecuring elements such as a nut and bolt arrangement whereby the twohalves 49 and 55 can be opened for inspection and maintenance.

In accordance with the present invention, a bead 62 is formed on theedge of the outer surface adjacent slot 55 of half while a similar head53 is formed on the surface of insulating half 51 of the load breakadapter. In addition, one corner 64 of insulator half 4? and one corner65 of insulator half 51 are flared outwardly as shown to guide theentrance of the quick break blade 45.

The purpose of beads 52 and 63 and flares 64 and 65 is to provide anobstacle to water falling on the interrupter or condensing on theinterrupter surfaces whereby such water is prevented from access toopening 59. That is to say, in the absence of such a head 62, andassuming that the surface carrying bead 52 faces upwardly in the switch,Water would be able to drip over the side or end of insulator half 49and into slot 59. If the switch were called on to operate at this time,the water could serve as a conducting path over the insulating innersurface of the interrupter or load break attachment so that itsoperation would be substantially hindered. In addition, it will preventthe accumulation of water in slot 55 which could subsequently be frozenin the outdoor environment in which the switch is placed.

It is to be noted at this point that what appears to be the obviousexpediency of drilling holes in the lower surface of the interruptercannot be used for Water drainage purposes, since such holes wouldpermit a blast of the ionized products outwardly of the interrupterchamber during operating conditions. This would, first, be dangen ous tomaintenance personnel who may be in the area of the switch, and,secondly, may seriously interfere with the interruption characteristicsof the device.

In addition to this, a gap 56 is provided to permit water which may havebeen blown inside slot 59 as by windblown rain to escape from the arcchute or from slot 59.

During operation of the switch, it will now be apparent that when crank42 is operated to move switch blades 14 and 15 to their open position,the blades will first move out of engagement with contact bar 39, whilequick break blade 45 remains engaged with, and latched behind, contacts60 and 61 within the load break attachment 44. This position is shown inFIGURE 3. Once the blades 14 and 15 have moved sufiiciently, and asufiicient biasing force has been applied to quick break blade 45, itwill be able to drive contacts 60 and 61 apart so that it willthereafter be snapped out of the arc chute, including slot 59 of FIGURE3A, as previously described.

During this snap action an arc will be drawn from contacts 60 and 61 tothe quick break blade 45 within the confines of the interrupter 44. Theinterrupter 44 is operable to extinguish such an are within a few cyclesso that there is a subsequent interruption of the circuit.

it is to be noted that it is preferable that quickbreak blade 45 has anexcessive amount of over-travel so that when the switch is in its closedposition, blade 45 will latch behind contacts 60 and 61, as shown inFIGURE 3, even though switch blades 14 and 15 are not in a fully closedposition. Thus, even if the blades 14 and 15 are moved to an openposition from only a partially closed position, the quick breaksnap-type action of blade 45 is obtained. This type of structure ishighly desirable when ganged switches are used, since all of theswitches may not close in precisely the same manner, as due to warpingof Wooden supports and many other reasons.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferredembodiments it should be understood that many variations andmodifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it ispreferred, therefore, that the scope of this invention be limited not bythe specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade beingmovable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect tothe ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housinghaving a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of saidconductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of saidflat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raisedbead thereon to prevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off ofsaid surface and toward said opening of said slot.

2. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade beingmovable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect tothe ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housinghaving a pair of parallel, flat opposing surfaces which are parallel tosaid plane of motion of said conductive blade and the plane includingsaid slot; at least a portion of the edge of each of said upper andlower surfaces lying adjacent the opening of said slot having a raisedbead thereon.

3. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachmenthaving a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive bladebeing movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationarycontact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect tosaid stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the groundsupporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flatupper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive bladeand said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surfaceadjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon toprevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surfaceand toward said opening of said slot.

4. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachement being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachmenthaving a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive bladebeing movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationarycontact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect tosaid stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the groundsupporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a fiatupper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive bladeand said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surfaceadjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon toprevent the fiow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surfaceand toward said opening of said slot; said conductive blade beingmovable to a latched position behind said stationary contact when movedto said engaged position with respect to said stationary contact; saidconductive blade being in said latched position over a relatively widerange of angular positions of said conductive blade.

5. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachmenthaving a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive bladebeing movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationarycontact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect tosaid stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the groundsupporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flatupper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive bladeand said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surfaceadjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon toprevent the fiow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surfaceand toward said opening of said slot; said electrical switch having astationary contact and a movable contact; said stationary contact ofsaid load break attachment being connected to said stationary con tactof said electrical switch; said movable contact of said electricalswitch being electrically connected to said conductive blade; saidconductive blade being operatively connected to said movable contact ofelectrical switch to be moved to its said disengaged position withrespect to said stationary contact of said load break attachment aftersaid movable contact of said electrical switch disengages saidstationary contact of said electrical sw tch.

6. A load break attachment for electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachmenthaving a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive bladebeing movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationarycontact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect tosaid stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the groundsupporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flatupper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said con ductive bladeand said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surfaceadjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon toprevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surfaceand toward said opening of said slot; said slot operating as an arcchute for said conductive blade and said stationary contact.

7. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment comprising a flat member of insulating material havingopposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; saidfiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two said edgesurfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extendingalong said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; theboundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for atleast the length of said slot opening in said two edge sur faces.

8. A load break attachment for an electrical switch;

said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulatingmaterial having opposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by fouredge surfaces; said flat member having a slot therein entering saidmember at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another andhaving an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least aportion of its length; the boundary of each of said top and bottomsurfaces having raised sections thereon for at least the length of saidslot opening in said two edge surfaces.

9. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment comprising a flat member of insulating material havingopposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; saidfiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of saidedge surfaces which are next to one another and having an openingextending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of itslength; the boundary of each of said top and bottom surfaces havingraised sections thereon for at least the length of said slot opening insaid two edge surfaces; said fiat member being formed of a first andsecond identical flat member; each of said first and secondidenticalflat members lying in the plane of said top and bottom surfacesrespectively.

10. A load break attachment for an electrical switch;

said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulatingmaterial having opposing fiat top and bottom surfaces joined by fouredge surfaces; said flat member having a slot therein entering saidmember at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another andhaving an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least aportion of its length; the boundary of said top surface having a raisedsection thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said twoedge surfaces; said slot having a contact member secured therein forengaging a conductive blade movable into said slot.

11. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment comprising a flat member of insulating material havingopposing fiat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; saidflat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of saidedge surfaces which are next to one another and having an openingextending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion ofitslength; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereonfor at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces;said load break attachment being mounted with said top surface parallelto the ground; said raised section preventing the flow of water fromsaid top surface and into said slot opening.

12. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an in sulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade beingmovable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect tothe ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housinghaving a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of saidconductive'blade and. said slot; at least a portion of the edge of saidflat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raisedbead thereon to preventthe flow of fluid from said upper surface off ofsaid surface and toward said opening of said slot; saidinsulatedfhousinghaving a passage means permitting water to flow out of said sot, saidpassage means being disposed in the horizontal plane of said slot.

13. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slottherein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachmenthaving a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive bladebeing movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationarycontact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect tosaid stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the groundsupporting said electrical switch; said insulatinghousing having a fiatupper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive bladeand said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surfaceadjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon toprevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surfaceand toward said opening of said slot; said insulated housing having apassage means permitting water to flow out of said slot, said passagemeans being disposed in the horizontal plane of said'slot.

14. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load breakattachment comprising a flat member of insulating material havingopposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; saidfiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of saidedge surfaces which are next to one another and having an openingextending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of itslength; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereonfor having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edgesurfaces which are next to one another and 'having an opening extendingalong said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; theboundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for atleast the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces; apassage means entering'said member at another of said surfaces andextending to said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,303,496 Rawlins et a1. Dec. 1, 1942 2,308,026 Rawlins Jan. 12, 19432,404,957 Graybill July 30, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,053,615 Germany Mar.26, 1959

